A point was all that separated Arsenal and Chelsea last season. For Chelsea.
The long-awaited captain now hopes to be able to defend the league title.
Expectations are always very high, now higher than ever, says Magdalena Erickson.
two years in a row Magdalena Erickson Chelsea celebrated the league title, but when the season kicks off at the weekend, many clubs start looking.
– I expect an equally tight league race as last year. The center back says it’s like in the league you don’t play a single game, you know it’s going to be hard every game you play.
unexpected girl
When Sweden’s players playing in the Premier League have to tip, it’s clear there will be two teams this season as well. The only one who says otherwise is Philippa Engeldahl of Manchester City.
– Of course I have to say city.
Her childhood friend Natalie Bjorn happened to do just that, before she corrected herself.
– I think City… No no… I think Chelsea or Arsenal. Then I don’t know any of them, Chelsea signed a lot and Arsenal only signed Lena, which is a good signing.
When Engeldahl hears this, she laughs and quickly responds:
– said the midfielder, I’m talking to her.
Last year, it was a trivial point that broke up after 22 games. Although Arsenal only suffered one loss, it was Chelsea who once again had to raise the bar.
Always very high expectations, now higher than ever. I think we’ve strengthened ourselves with amazingly good players and kept a lot of good players. “We have an amazing competitive position in the team which is very exciting and fierce, so the quality of the training is incredibly high,” says Magdalena Erickson.
We want revenge in the Champions League group stage above all and we want to win the league again. We are aiming big on all fronts and we have every right to that because we have the right team for that, but the league hasn’t been better this year. It will be difficult, but we always have high goals at Chelsea.
While last year’s league winners have had a good run, Arsenal are taking it a bit more quietly in the transfer market. But Swedish coach Jonas Edevaal has used a familiar face in the form of Sweden star Lena Hurtig.
Lena is a player I know from the national team and from the time we played in Linköping. I know how important it is to have a player on the line and I think she will be able to give us a lot as a team. Stena Blackstein says it would be very exciting to see her in English football.
want a challenge
The 26-year-old from Vadstina had himself signed for Arsenal over the winter and is making his first full season with the London club.
I want to continue to be able to contribute the qualities that I have and of course I hope to play as much as possible and to be able to develop cooperation with those who are already players there.
– I hope it can be as good as possible in terms of points and as an attacking player you always want to contribute points, so I hope I can do that.
It is clear that both Hurtig and Blacksteinus want to be able to challenge Chelsea this year and make sure they bring the title to North London.
I hope Arsenal, of course. I can’t say otherwise, says Blacksteinus when asked who would get the title.
If Magdalena Erickson agreed? Obviously not.
It’s going to be really difficult and teams will lose points left and right to each other, so I think it will continue, but of course the goal is for Chelsea to stand there and lift another cup.
After the first round was postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Chelsea start away to Liverpool on Sunday. At first he will be Arsenal’s rival, who will face Brighton on Friday night.